Vice President Sara Duterte, who faces an impeachment trial in the Senate, emerged as the only top national official to secure a majority approval rating in the latest Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan survey conducted in March 2025 — just 12 days after the controversial arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, on 11 March. The survey, which captured the public sentiment in the immediate aftermath of the elder Duterte’s arrest, reflects not only on the performance of key national leaders but also the broader political shift marked by the public backlash and mass mobilizations nationwide and abroad. Of the four officials, Vice President Duterte was the only one to experience an improvement in her approval rating — a notable rise from 52 percent in February to 59 percent in March. Analysts point to a “sympathy wave” in the wake of her father’s arrest, as well as her calm and defiant public posture during the crisis, which may have endeared her further to both loyal supporters and undecided voters. Speaker Romualdez similarly suffered a major setback, with a 15-point increase in distrust — from 42 percent in February to 57 percent in March — reinforcing his image as one of the most unpopular figures in the national government. While public trust in the Marcos administration and its allies appears to be eroding rapidly, Vice President Duterte’s numbers suggest that she may be gaining ground as a national political figure — not only as her father’s daughter but increasingly as a potential unifying force for those disillusioned with the current leadership. Read Full Story
